ASSESSMENT TYPES OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IN NARCOTIC CASES WHICH ASSESSED BY COUNCIL OF FORENSIC MEDICINE BETWEEN 2011- 2013

ASSESSMENT TYPES OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IN NARCOTIC CASES WHICH ASSESSED BY COUNCIL OF FORENSIC MEDICINE BETWEEN 2011- 2013

Synthetic cannabinoids (SC), mimicking cannabis-like effects, are the largest and fastest growing class of newly appearing designer drugs. Reports indicate that various types of synthetic cannabinoids mixed with herbal substances. The aim of the present study was to investigate cases of herbal substances which contain SC in Ankara and nearby cities in Turkey. Data were collected from the reports of SC that were analyzed between January 01, 2011 and December 31, 2013 in the Ankara Narcotic Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine at the request of the judicial authorities. A total of 2618 narcotic reports were obtained and reviewed. Among these narcotic reports during the period, 127 reports were related with SC. Thirteen compounds could be identified in herbals, namely AB-FUBINACA, AKB48, AM2201, JWH122, JWH018, JWH022, JWH210, JWH250, MAM2201, RCS4, UR144, XLR11, 5-FLUORO-AKB48. Amounts of herbals were 30,72 g, 329,22 g and 665,89 g in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. Generally, herbals contained more than one SC. But AM2201 was the most common SC amongst the herbals in this study which was 196,03 g except multi-SC herbals. The amount and diversity of SC compounds have increased dramatically between 2011-2013. Acording to our files, consumption of SC has decreased in recent years due to SC based deads. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed for the identification of these compounds in herbals.

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  • Ersin GÖL, Ismet ÇOK
  • Ankara Narcotic Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine Gazi University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology, 06330, Hipodrom, Ankara